A House education committee advanced two bipartisan bills to standardize financial‑aid communications: one would require a universal net‑price calculator and expanded program‑level data on the College Scorecard, and the other would create a standardized format for institutional award letters. Lawmakers said the measures aim to help students compare costs and avoid surprise debt; higher‑education groups warned of administrative burdens. Separately, a handful of colleges have begun offering early financial‑aid previews—estimates of likely aid for applicants—to make early‑decision processes fairer for low‑income students. Advocates say previews may reduce disadvantage in binding admissions plans; critics caution that federal standards and consistent formats are necessary to make previews reliable and scalable.